George and Artie McDonald, of rural Lucas, learned via telegram on July 5, 1944, that their 19-year-old son, U.S. Marine PFC Franklin W. McDonald, had been killed in action three weeks earlier --- on June 15, sometimes referred to as the Pacific D-Day.
Chief crew operator of an amphibious tractor, he had been mortally wounded while moving his vehicle onto the beach at Saipan in the Marianas as that great and costly battle against Japanese forces was launched.
Born Sept. 24, 1924, in Lucas County, Frank was a 1942 Lucas High School graduate and had enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Oct. 31, 1943.
More than a year after his death, on Sept. 18, 1945, The Chariton Leader published the citation text for the Silver Star Medal that had been awarded to him posthumously for valor on that far-away island. Here's the text:
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The Silver Star Medal has been awarded posthumously at Lucas to Frank W. McDonald, USMCR, for "conspicious gallantry and intrepidity" during the assault on Jap-held Saipan in June, 1944.
The medal was presented to Pfc. McDonald's parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. McDonald, RFD 1, Lucas, in the name of the President for the Commandant of the Marine Corps by Major Robert S. Stone, USMCR, who commands the Marine aviation detachment at the Naval Air Station, Ottumwa.
The citation accompanying the medal set forth the Lucas Marine's bravery during the savage fighting by the Marines attempting to gain a foothold on the most formidable of the Jap fortresses in the Marianas. It said:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the Fifth Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Fifth Amphibious Corps, Fleet Machine Force, during assault operations against enemy Japanese-held Saipan Island in the Marianas on 15 June 1944. Undaunted by the terrific opposition encountered while moving his tractor in on the beach during landing operations on D-Day, Private First Class McDonald advanced indomitably under the powerful barrage of shattering mortar fire from concealed Japanese weapons. Although mortally wounded when the enemy scored a direct hit on his vehicle, he continued to push relentlessly forward and succeeded in reaching the beach, before he collapsed and was evacuated to a hospital ship offshore where he ultimately succumbed to his wounds. His determined aggressiveness, unyielding fortitude and valiant devotion to duty in the face of extreme peril reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class McDonald and upon the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."
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PFC McDonald's remains had been buried initially at the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Saipan, but were repatriated to the United States during late 1948. Funeral services were held on Sunday, Jan. 2, 1949, at First Nazarene Church; burial followed in the Chariton Cemetery, where his grave is marked by a simple GI tombstone.
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The text of Frank's Silver Star Medal citation was published, as noted earlier, in The Chariton Leader of Sept. 18, 1945. A separate column on the same page of that edition was headlined, "Another County Lad Apparent War Casualty." It reported the death of Conrad Francis McDonald, of Williamson, first-cousin of Franklin W. McDonald.
The dreaded finger of war has apparently struck another Lucas county home this week when word was received Monday by Mr. and Mrs. Francis A. McDonald, Williamson, that their son, Conrad Francis McDonald, 20, aviation radio man 3-C, was missing following a plane crash in the sea somewhere in the Pacific on September 4.
Full details have not been received by the family, outside the above facts, but a full report was promised later by the navy department.
McDonald entered the service in August, 1943. He is the second serviceman in the McDonald family from this county to become a casualty. Earlier in the war his cousin, Franklin W. McDonald, was killed in action.
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